57% of Scotland’s energy came from renewables in 2015

A new report published by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change shows that 57.7% of Scotland’s electric consumption came from renewable sources in 2015, exceeding the country’s 50% target for the year. This milestone comes in spite of the UK government’s recent decision to end public subsidies for onshore wind farms a year earlier than initially planned.

Clean energy proponents are praising the success of the Scottish National Party’s renewable energy initiatives, and holding up the new statistics as proof that the nation could become the EU’s first fully renewable electricity nation by 2030. WWF Scotland’s director, Lang Banks, told Herald Scotland “Independent research has shown that it is possible for Scotland to have a secure, efficient electricity system, based on almost entirely renewable electricity generation, by 2030. Embracing that vision would maximize the opportunities to create new jobs, empower communities and support local economic renewal throughout the country.”

The main sources of Scotland‘s renewable power are wind, wave, and tidal power, which collectively make up about 80% of the country’s renewable energy capacity. By the end of 2015, the country had 7,723 megawatts of installed capacity, generating 21,983 gigawatts. That’s not insignificant — in fact, this January, there were 22 days when the amount of electricity generated from wind was enough to power every home in the country.